The Sports Xchange

ASHBURN, Va. — Wide receiver DeSean Jackson of the Washington Redskins (left hamstring) took part in individual drills and one-one-one passing drills during Monday’s low-key 75-minute practice.

Jackson has not played since the first quarter of the Sept. 13 season opener against Miami. And he was hardly going full speed. But Jackson is targeting the New England game for his return.

“I’m at that point right now I’m ready to go,” Jackson said. “Every day is a building day until Sunday. I should be good to go.”

Of course, we’ve been here before. Jackson was progressing toward a return before the Oct. 18 game at the New York Jets. He practiced much of that week, but three days before the game suffered a setback and missed the next two games.

Redskins coach Jay Gruden wouldn’t concede to any lineup changes against New England. He still insists, for instance, that running backs Alfred Morris and Matt Jones will continue to share carries and Washington will go with the hot hand.

Instead, the bye week was used more to self-scout the Redskins’ own tendencies in what the coaching staff calls “key football situations.”

“Red zone, third down by personnel groups, all that stuff,” Gruden said. “And how we can make our team better. Maybe a substitution change or not, maybe moving people around defensively. Getting people more involved offensively. Fixing the running game.”

That’s a laundry list of issues that also includes stopping the run. Given New England’s penchant for exploiting its opponents’ weakness over and over, the Redskins can’t just expect a team that primarily throws the ball to abandon the run.

If it works, the Patriots are ruthless. And Washington hasn’t stopped the opposing run game in weeks.

NOTES: Cornerback DeAngelo Hall (right toe) took part in individual drills during Monday’s practice, but is still “on the fence” to play in the New England game. Hall has a Grade 2 plantar plate tear and hasn’t played since Sept. 24. … Linebacker Ryan Kerrigan wore a cast on his broken right hand at practice Monday, but remains confident he can play this weekend. Kerrigan broke the hand during last Sunday’s win over Tampa Bay before the bye. He will see his surgeon again for final clearance on Thursday. … Right guard Brandon Scherff missed Monday’s practice for “personal reasons,” the Redskins said. He was later seen walking toward the team’s locker room about an hour after practice ended. … Nose tackle Terrance Knighton also missed Monday’s practice for “personal reasons”, but is also expected to be back on Wednesday. … Cornerback Chris Culliver (left knee) admitted he had “a little something” done to the knee earlier in October. He hasn’t played since an Oct. 4 win over Philadelphia, when he was clearly hobbled and playing through pain. Culliver hopes he can play against the Patriots, but only took part in individual drills at Monday’s practice. … Cornerback Bashaud Breeland (hamstring), injured late in regulation making a touchdown-saving tackle against Tampa Bay that proved pivotal in Washington’s comeback win, still isn’t healthy after the bye week. He worked on a side field with trainers while his teammates practiced on Monday.